Apparatus for locking together rail cars on vertically spaced tracks



Jan. 13, 1970 F. KENNEDY 3,489,101

APPARATUS FOR LOOKING TOGETHER RAIL CARS ON VERTICALLY SPACED TRACKS Filed Feb. 7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l INV E N TOR FQA/VK yam 50v ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1970 F. KENNEDY APPARATUS FOR LOOKING TOGETHER RAIL CARS ON VERTICALLY SPACED TRACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7. 1968 1 ll lll: Hm III-E2 L INVENTOR FRAA/A /(A/A/0) ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1970 F. KENNEDY APPARATUS FOR LOCKING TOGETHER RAIL CARS ON VERTICALLY SPACED TRACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 7. 1968 INVENTOR FQAA/K {av/wa ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1970 F. KENNEDY 3,489,101

APPARATUS FOR LOOKING TOGETHER RAIL CARS ON VERTICALLY SPACED TRACKS Filed Feb. '7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 5, FQAA A Kf/V/Vfpy BY M 14025 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,489,101 APPARATUS FOR LOCKING TOGETHER RAIL CARS ON VERTICALLY SPACED TRACKS Frank Kennedy, Johnstown, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,584 Int. Cl. B61k 1/00; B22d 41/12 US. Cl. 104-18 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus consists of a dual wedge and single socket for interlocking upper and lower cars disposed, respectively, on vertically spaced upper and lower tracks so that a stream of molten metal from a ladle carried by the upper car will remain precisely directed or positioned with respect to apparatus, e.g. a vacuum degassing chamber, carried by the lower car when the two cars are moved simultaneously in the same direction along their respective tracks.

The present invention relates generally to material handling apparatus and more specifically to a dual wedge and single socket locking device especially suitable for interlocking in predetermined relative positions an upper vehicle and a lower vehicle disposed on vertically spaced tracks.

Although not restricted thereto, the present invention finds particular utilization for maintaining, in a continuous casting process, a predetermined positional relationship between a molten metal ladle car located on an elevated track and a degassing chamber car located on another track spaced vertically below the ladle car, and in respect to such a process a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described.

During continuous casting of molten metal, an upper ladle-positioning car (one type of ladle-positioning car is disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 630,286 filed Apr. 12, 1967) carrying a ladle of molten metal is positioned on the upper track and a degassing-chamber positioning car similar to the ladle-positioning car is disposed on a lower track spaced vertically below the upper track. The outlet nozzle of the degassing chamber carried by the lower car is positioned over a continuous casting mold. The ladle on the upper track must be positioned precisely relative to the degassing-chamber car of the lower. track so that the ladle nozzle can be properly adjusted into position as to discharge a molten metal stream directly and precisely into the inlet opening of the degassing chamber to prevent damage to the seals of the degassing chamber. Positioning of the ladle car on the upper track relative to the degassing-chamber car already located on the lower track above the mold is initiated by moving the ladle car along the track to a position in which the outlet nozzle of the ladle carried by the ladle car is located above and approximately aligned with the inlpt' opening of the degassing chamber. Precision positioning of the ladle in the ladle positioning car is then effected by manipulating the ladle cradle of the ladle car so as to precisely position the discharge nozzle of the molten ladle relative to the inlet opening of the degassing chamber. Continuous casting of the molten metal from the ladle through the degassing chamber into the mold is then started.

During continuous casting, the flow of molten metal from the ladle through the degassing chamber into the mold must be controlled by the stopper rod rigging on the ladle to maintain a proper level of molten metal in and avoid molten metal overflow from the mold. In the event that the stopper rod rigging fails or is unable for any reason to control the flow of molten metal into the mold,

it is necessary to move both cars simultaneously in one direction along the tracks, meanwhile maintaining precisely their positions relative to each other, away from their position above the mold so as to divert the stream of molten metal from the mold to a trough or other receptacle adjacent to the mold. The positional relationship of the cars during this movement must be precisely maintained to prevent damage to the seals of the degassing chamber from the flow of molten metal issuing from the discharge nozzle of the ladle.

The present invention contemplates interlocking the cars, one above the other, after the cars have been properly and precisely aligned, so that such alignment can be maintained during any subsequent simultaneous movement of the cars along their respective trackways.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide an interlocking device for maintaining a pair of vertically spaced track-mounted vehicles in a predetermined relative relationship during simultaneous movement of the vehicles along their respective tracks.

It is a more specialized object of my invention to provide an interlocking device of the character set forth by the above object including a socket receptacle having an opening in one end directed toward the other car and power driven dual wedges on the other car adapted to be received in the opening of the socket receptacle on the first car to interlock the two cars together.

As a corollary to the object above, it is a further object of my invention to provide an interlocking device of the character set forth by the statement of object above in which the opening of the socket receptacle is defined by sloped contact faces inclined at an angle matching the angularity of the inclined contact faces of the dual wedges.

It is another object of my invention to provide an interlocking device of the character set forth above in which the dual wedges are independently actuatable so as to be made to penetrate into the socket different distances relative to each other.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing two cars on vertically spaced tracks which cars are equipped with the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view turned substantially from FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial elevational view showing the details of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged. partial view similar to FIG- URE 3 but showing the apparatus of the invention in a diiferent position;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line VV of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially I along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a ladle positioning car mounted for movement along an elevated track 4. Reference numeral 6 designates a vacuum-chamber positioning car mounted for movement along an elevated track 8 disposed below and parallel with track 4. The cars 2 and 6 may be of the type disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 630,286 filed Apr. 12, 1967. A socket 10 formed with opposed sidewalls 12, 12 and 14, 14 and bottom 16 is attached to and depends from the frame of the ladle car 2. The bottom plate 16 of the socket 10 is provided with an opening 18 having sides 19 which are angularly inclined for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.

A frame or enclosure 20 is attached to and projects upwardly from the frame of the vacuum-chamber car 6. The frame includes opposed upstanding plate members 22, 22

and 24, 24 and a top plate 26 which is provided with a pair of openings 28 therethrough. A guide member, designated generally 'by reference numeral 30, is disposed above and connected with the frame 20. The guide member 30 is provided with opposed sidewalls 32, 32 and opposed end walls 34, 34. Vertical guide strips 36 are welded to the inner surface of the sidewalls 32, 32 in spaced parallel relation. A vertical guide strip 38 is mounted on the inner surface of each of the end walls 34, 34.

A pair of upstanding hydraulic cylinders 40 and 42 are disposed in side-by-side relation in the frame 20. The piston rods 44 and 46 of the cylinders 40 and 42, respectively, project upwardly of the frame 20 and have attached thereto substantially wedge-shaped stabbing members 48 and 50, respectively. Each of the stabbing members 48 and 50 has an edge 52 parallel with the path of movement of the stabbing members and an edge 53 inclined to the path of movement of the stabbing members. The angle of inclination of edges 53 is the same as the angle of inclination of the sides 19 of the opening 18 in the socket 10. The opposed faces 54 and 56 of the stabbing members 48 and 50 are provided with key ways 58 for accommodating the vertical guide strips 36. The inclined edges 53 of the stabbing members are provided with key ways 60 for accommodating the vertical guide strips 38 on the inner surfaces of the end walls 34, 34. Stabbing member 50 is formed with a key 62 extending vertically along its edge 52 which is adapted to be received in a key way 64 formed in the edge 52 of the stabbing member 48.

In operation, car 6 bearing a vacuum degassing chamber (not shown) is first located on the track 8 above a continuous casting mold (not shown). The ladle positioning car 2 is then moved along its track 4 to a position where the outlet nozzle of the ladle carried by the ladle car is located above and is approximately aligned with the inlet opening of the vacuum degassing chamber carried by the car 6. Precision positioning of the ladle (not shown) in the ladle positioning car is then effected by manipulating the ladle cradle of the ladle car so as to precisely position the discharge nozzle of the molten metal ladle relative to the inlet opening of the degassing chamber. After such precision positioning of the two cars has been accomplished, hydraulic fluid is introduced into each of the cylinders 40 and 42 to cause projection of the piston rods 44 and 46 and consequent lifting of the stabbing members 48 and 50. Upward movement of the stabbing members causes them to enter the opening 18 of the socket and thereby lock the two cars together. The upward movement of the stabbing members 48 and 50 is guided by the vertical guide strips 36 and 38, key ways 58, key 62 and key way 64.

If the two cars are so aligned that the vertical center lines of the socket 10 and the frame are coincidental, the stabbing members 48 and 50 will penetrate into the socket 10 an equal distance, as best shown in FIGURE 3. However, when the position of the ladle on the car 2 with respect to the vacuum degassing chamber on the car 6 requires that the two cars be so located to establish precise alignment that the center line of the socket 10 does .4 not coincide with the center line of the frame 20, the stabbing members 48 and 50 will penetrate to different levels in the socket 10, as shown in FIGURE 4. The maximum offset of the center line of the socket 10 to the frame 20 is merely a function of the width and angularity of the stabbing members 48 and 50, with suitable dimension of the opening 18 to accommodate the width and taper of the stabbing members.

Although I have shown the sides 19 of the opening 18 as being inclined for the purpose of providing a more positive interlocking relationship with the stabbing members 48 and 50 into the socket 10, the apparatus will function even if the sides 19 are straight.

It should now be obvious that the movement of the stabbing member 48 is independent of the movement of stabbing member 50, and their combined upward travel interlocks the socket 10 to the frame 20 to maintain any previously established alignment of each car above the other.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for locking together two rail cars mounted one on each of two vertically spaced tracks which comprises a socket having an opening in one end mounted on one of said cars with said one end directed toward the other of said cars, a frame mounted on said other car, a pair of stabbing members slidable in said frame toward and from said socket and into and out of said opening, each of said members having an edge parallel to the path of movement of said members and an edge inclined thereto, said parallel edges of the members being adjacent, and means connected with each of said members for actuating the same toward and from said socket independently of the other.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the sides of the opening in said one end of said socket are angularly inclined to match the angle of inclination of the inclined edges of said stabbing members.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including guide means in said frame for guiding said stabbing members in their movement toward and away from said socket.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the parallel edge of one of said stabbing members is formed with a longitudinal key way extending therealong, and a key on the parallel edge of the other of said stabbing mern-bers slidably fitting in said key way.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,367 1/1901 Wainford 164335 X 1,247,805 11/1917 Febre 2l443 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 164-335; 214-43 

